Fall/Winter Fashion Trend 2006

Yes, it’s here. While we mourn the loss of our beloved spring and summer, our sorrow is bittersweet as our thoughts turn the real joy of any season – fashion! As usual, His Stuff has scoured the globe for the best in men’s fashion for the season. Here are just a few of our favorites:

InVESTment Dressing
Last year’s sweater vest has grown up into the "real deal" – the classic menswear vest. Whether it’s part of a 3-piece suit or paired with a T-shirt and jeans, the vest is a "must have" this fall. Produced in classic suiting fabrics, it has a modern shape with higher armholes and a lean, fitted body. A great trend for just about anyone or any body.

The Straight Story
The new, modern jean is the straight leg. Cuts run from a very punk rock-inspired skinny jean to a more forgiving profile. And remember: the straight leg is not just for denim alone. Casual and even dress pants are slimmer this season. The lace-up boot is this fall’s perfect footnote to the straight leg pant or jean. For that fresh-off-the-runway look, wear them half laced with the pant never fully tucked in.

A Furry Tale
Whether it’s the real deal or faux, fur has become a fashionable man’s best friend. As with most trends, a little goes a long way. A fur coat? Too pimp-daddy. Fur vest? Too Sonny Bono. That said, fur does have its role, literally, from head to toe. A fur hat brings out the Dr. Zhivago in all of us. Or try a fur-lined hunter’s cap for a more utilitarian vibe. Even fur-lined boots bring a chic practicality to trekking the urban tundra.

Coat of Many Collars
This year may be the best season yet for outerwear. Fur collars update the classic overcoat, while a double-breasted, above the knee and cut like a fitted sport coat is as modern as it gets. The classic prep school duffel coat, hooded with "horn" toggle closures, returns with a fit and sophistication that separates the men from the boys. On the sportier side, new developments in synthetic polyfil now have the ability of giving you the warmth of a "puffy" coat with absolutely none of the bulk, creating an incredibly warm jacket that is sleek and modern as well.

The Playboy Aristocrat
You don’t have to be upper class to have this high-class vibe. Traditional British style meets L.A. playboy. (Think Prince William and Hugh Hefner mixed together and shaken, not stirred.) We call it the New Formalism: a contemporary approach to holiday dressing that depends less on time of day or social context, but rather on personal style and has the edge of the unconventional. Think crisp white tux shirt with jeans for a holiday brunch or the mixing of brocades and velvets to add a rich, aristocratic touch to any situation. Even an ultra plush corduroy pant brings an element of privilege and sophisticated style to the most mundane holiday event.

Men in the Andersonville neighborhood and across the Chicago area make their way to His Stuff (5314 N. Clark St.) to find distinctive clothing and accessories that are wearable and well made. Ralph Fasano and Jeff Worth, the owners of His Stuff, are expert trend-spotters who comb the world of men’s fashion to bring their customers only the best brands, in a neighborhood storefront that’s cool, casual, and comfortable. The store offers all the "stuff" a guy needs to feel confident and look great in any setting—from work to working out, from hanging out to going out. Visit HisStuffChicago.com or call (773) 989-9111.